Paddle board hire in Burnham Overy Staithe - genius - The perfect spot to try a SUP, completely beautiful and lots of creeks to explore. The tide is strong - so do book a taster session first and learn all about it.

Huff and Puff Cylce Hire in Kelling will deliver a huge range of cycles to you at The White House - here is what they say:

As a family business, Huff and Puff Cycles are proud to offer a friendly and efficient cycle hire service for individuals, couples and families. We can easily cater for larger group bookings with our fleet of over 150 quality cycles. We also have tag-a-long cycles, child seats and buggies. For twice the fun, why not try a tandem?

Run by a small, local team of professional adventurers, we skipper and host trips ranging from four hours to three days, through creeks, marshes and open sea. Get involved with the sailing and cooking, or sit back and connect with nature – the pace is yours to choose.

We only use locally sourced high-quality food and drink on our sails, ensuring a full Norfolk experience. Our philosophy is to run a sustainable business by investing in slow food, community engagement projects and the movement of cargo under sail.”

This is a lovely piece in the Guardian Newspaper’s Country Diary by Matt Shardlow (@MattEAShardlow) about the very special saltmarsh at Brancaster - direct link to the article in the title of this post...

Wide expanses of beach sand and saltmarsh provide little shelter from the elements. The weather is on the turn, the gentle southerly breeze transforming into a bracing northerly, marshalling light but remorseless rain from the North Sea.

The beach is adorned with shells, in particular narrow, rectangular European razor clams (Ensis minor), that roll and dance in the surf, form drifts along the strandline, and crunch underfoot like wafers of glass. The matrix of the fragmented strandline consists of tangles of sandy-coloured bryozoan colonies – seaweed-like fronds of greater horn wrack and other branched or filamentous examples of these animals.

Nestled amongst them are empty ray egg cases; each infant ray having wriggled free of its black vinyl ravioli envelope. Two types are present; the thornback ray cases are nearly square with a stoutish horn on each corner and a delicate flange along every edge, while the spotted ray cases are slenderer, with smooth bowed sides and long curved horns.

A channel cuts through the dunes and beach, the water is ponded and sheltered at the point where it exits the saltmarshes. The heads of two young common seals poke out and shiny liquorice button eyes watch us with curiosity.

Behind the dunes is a sea meadow, although only a single pink flowering head of thrift remains, there is a swathe of dried, branched sea-lavender seed-heads. The higher, sandy margins are dominated by the tiny rock sea-lavender, its dinky rosettes of paddle-shaped leaves barely bigger than a milk bottle cap, while the larger lax-flowered variety is commoner in the wetter areas of the slack.

A flock of pallid birds skim low over the dunes. The snow buntings alight in the sea meadow and forage for seeds. These plump little passerines are an underappreciated British species. Brilliant white under-parts and broad wing-bases; the head and face dusted with brick-red shading. They breed in the arctic circle, with a few outposts in the Cairngorms, then visit our remote beaches after we desert them in autumn.

We love Socius, the beautifully designed new restaurant in Burnham Market. It opened in March 2018 and has been wildly popular ever since. Their success is well deserved, as the food is innovative and delicious, the owners and staff are completely charming and the atmosphere is light, airy and relaxed. It feels like it could have been transplanted straight from the waterfront in Australia somewhere. There is a handmade gelato van and pavement tables outside in the spring and summer. Your dog can be treated to his own Sunday roast whilst you enjoy yours - genius. We really do love Socius at The White House - they also do outside catering and are on our list of preferred caterers at TWH.

Victoria always does the most beautiful flowers, and she is so creative. Our flowers at The White House and they are always wonderful and working with Victoria is a complete joy. We usually like seasonal and as local as possible, but do have the odd floral extravagance for parties - as in this photo. These fabulous flowers were for a girl's 21st dinner party and were all over instagram the following day.

This is a wonderful shop, packed with delicious cakes, freshly made lunches and produce flown in directly from the owner's farm and local area in Tuscany. The Coffee is a real treat.

Welcome to the Tuscan Farm Shop. You can find us on the green in Burnham Market, Norfolk.

Come in, look around and try the produce from my farm at Montalcino in Tuscany: the wine and olive oil that we grow are simply delicious!

We also have a wonderful selection of cheeses, salami and prosciutto and other artisan specialities from around our area, the Val D'Orcia. We bring excellent coffee from Arezzo, which you can enjoy with a pastry or one of our home-made cakes.

We hope to bring you as much of the Tuscan way of living as we can; the food, the wine and some Tuscan vintage homeware. We will be serving a few simple Tuscan dishes to whet your appetite and show how easy it is to use our perfect produce in your own kitchen.

The famous shop Anna in Burnham Market has been featured on so many "best of" lists it would be impossible to write them all here - they do include accolades from Vogue UK, which has to be the clincher. It is thoughtfully stocked with new labels and a speciality is colour and prints. Their own label, designed by Anna herself, Primrose Park is a favourite. There is always something immensely covetable, whether it is the perfect pair of shoes or a Chinti and Parker cashmere sweater...

Featured in The Telegraph's 50 best boutiques outside London, this is a real find. With brands like Samsoe + Samsoe, Belstaff, Citizens of Humanity, Rixo, Weekend MaxMara, Diane von Furstenburg, Seafolly, Superga, Hartford and Annick Goutal perfumes to name a few, this is unexpected in a country market town. It is on two levels and is packed with great clothes, shoes, jewellery and accessories. Something to cheer up a rainy day perhaps?

If we are looking for a special present or something indulgent, this is our go to destination. Barefoot Living, an arm of the wonderful Barefoot Empire run by Emma Tagg, is a fabulous treasure box of beautiful and useful homewares and gifts. There is always something new there, so a real Burnham Market must stop shop.

This place is a little piece of magic on the Norfolk coast. Lovely shops, including chic nordic womenswear at Nelle DK lovely homewares in the peaceful Joyful Living (photo) and sweet children's shop Bells and Whistles all housed in pretty buildings, a farm shop and orchards with pyo and the most delicious apples and fresh apple juice. Gurney's Fish Box, which is one of the best, Eric's Fish and Chips which is funky and fabulous and does great takeaway too and Shucks at the Yurt Restaurant, which is actually in a Yurt and is great fun; it also houses the Chicken Box takeaway at the weekends in the summer season. This is just outside Thornham and is worth a stop. All independent shops run by people who really care about their products and service. Unexpected and quite wonderful.

Everyone knows that the Thornham Deli team are a real powerhouse. They are amazing and just go from strength to strength making it look easy. A few of the things that they are great at include, coffee(!!) bespoke hampers and picnics, cakes, gifts, interiors and the list goes on... A great stop on your North Norfolk visit. Thornham Deli Crew, we salute you!

This place is a real gem - it is just a few miles inland from The White House on the way to Houghton or King's Lynn, and is well worth the trip. Bircham Stores Cafe serves the most delicious sandwiches, breakfasts (until 12), lunches, cakes and afternoon tea. They will also pack a bespoke picnic or a Hamper to order for your day out at the beach. Priced well for really outstanding quality, this is a great find. It is not a secret sadly, so it can get busy, but is so worth a wait - or ring ahead for your Hamper. We can also organise your Bircham Stores Cafe picnic for you from the White House.

Pop up events in Tipis on their smallholding are hugely popular here in Norfolk, the events feature locally sourced food, often grown by Matthew and Caroline themselves, presented in a warm and generous environment - and the food tastes incredible.

The Owsley-Browns also do huge weddings and parties, small dinners and a wildly popular Supper Club at The White House, where the emphasis is on wonderful food, beautifully prepared, paired with different wines and their trademark warm and welcoming atmosphere. We plan to grow this from a traditional supper club, all at one table to a larger one with tables set up around the house, to give an opportunity for more people to enjoy these dinners at The White House. Watch this space!

They are very in demand in the wedding season, so do contact them asap if you are interested.

In their own words..

Matthew and Caroline Owsley-Brown moved up to Norfolk in 2001 to own and run the well-known and loved seafood restaurant, Fishes in Burnham Market, which we sold in march 2009.

We have since bought a smallholding on which we grow vegetables and raise livestock. We have a commercial kitchen here at Conkers from which we operate our outside catering business, run cooking workshops and host the odd popup restaurant.

We are very passionate about fine, seasonal and locally sourced food. We are lucky - Norfolk is so rich in regional produce. Since being in East Anglia we have witnessed a sea-change in the quality of goods on offer. I hope we can show you that we are part of that new wave of good food.

Previously we worked for Rick Stein in Padstow in the mid 90’s and Matthew has over 25 years’ cooking experience in many top restaurants in London, including Mosimann’s The Belfry and the Fifth Floor at Harvey Nichols.

Bec Newstead owns and runs this relaxing small spa just about 3 miles down the road from The White House. It is immaculately clean, with a very relaxing atmosphere. The Elemis treatments are particularly lovely and it is a great spot for a bit of get away from it all time. Bec also specialises in wedding makeup and makes brides and the whole wedding party look just like themselves, but somehow more glowing and perfect. We can highly recommend this - and she is very popular particularly in the wedding season, so do get in early.

At The White House, we have 2 of the most beautiful works of Shell Art created by Blott Kerr-Wilson in our drawing room. They are sublime, reminding us of the shifting, shining colours of the sea, schools of glimmering fish and are, whilst wholly imagined and created by the talented Blott, things of natural beauty. Whilst she is now based in Norfolk (previously France), Blott travels around the world and creates bespoke Shell Houses, Grottoes and whole walls of beauty, as well as her uniquely beautiful individual pieces for collectors. We feel privileged to host two such special works and would encourage a look at her website, as the work is really extraordinary.

One of the wonderful things that happens at Creake Abbey, just outside Burnham Market, in North Creake is wonderful Art Exhibitions. This photo is from a Harry Cory Wright Exhibition in 2017. The Photo is from his 'Hey Charlie' collection of work.

They also host a hugely popular monthly Farmer's Market - featuring our own delicious Great Granola made by Sara Bonallack. This is held the first Saturday of every month - get there early.

There is a brilliant food hall too, a good place to stock up on the way home. The cheese counter is a particular favourite of ours. Everything is at peak ripeness and there is a great selection too.

There are several other shops with desirable bits - antique garden bric a brac, divine french soaps etc. Worth a little wander...

All of this is set in a beautiful countryside location in the grounds of ancient Creake Abbey and just a few miles from us at The White House.

They also do picnics, hampers and food to take away - ring ahead or ask us to help. Delicious.

We really love the Wiveton Hall Cafe - the quirky style, delicious food and the view. Since it has been made famous by Desmond MacCarthy's BBC programme 'Normal for Norfolk' it is very busy, especially at weekends and peak season, but weekdays in May, June and September it is often possible to sit outside and bask in the sunshine whilst eating delicious and truly local food and gazing out over the marshes to the sea. Inside there are Art Exhibitions, scrumptious cakes and brightly painted furniture. Take home strawberries, raspberries and asparagus in season too. It is absolutely unique and full of personality; we love it.

Here is what they have to say about it and seasonal opening hours and events...

Our Chefs are passionate about sourcing truly local ingredients, if they’re not from the farm then you can be sure they won’t have travelled far.

The Café is also a regular exhibiting space for artists, please see the art page for details.

Café Opening Times

22nd March – 11th November 2018

Monday to Sunday 9.00am – 4.30pm

Lunch served daily

The Café gets very busy between 11.45 – 3.00pm please do call or email us to reserve a table

12.00 – 3.00pm (Bookings are taken between 11.45 – 3.00pm)

Wiveton Afternoon Tea served daily

(selection of homemade cakes and savouries)

Booking is not required

3.00pm – 4.30pm (Last order at 4.30pm)

Light Breakfast served on weekdays

9.00am – 11.00am

Booking is not required

Cooked Breakfast served on Saturday and Sundayand Bank Holiday Monday

Booking is necessary during the busy periods

9.00am – 10.30am

Friday Evening Beef and Reef

Booking is necessary during the busy periods

Every Friday from 4th May – 28th September

Food is available 6.30pm – 8.30pm (Bookings are taken between 6.15pm – 8.15pm)

Saturday Tapas

Booking is necessary during the busy periods

Every Saturday from 5th May – 29th September

Food is available 6.30pm – 8.30pm (Bookings are taken between 6.15pm – 8.15pm)

Pizza Evenings

Booking is necessary during the busy periods

Every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 22nd July – 30th August

Not sure why we adding this to our list, as we would like to be able to get a table there sometimes too and as it is such a complete gem of a restaurant, it is already a challenge to get booked in ourselves. But, as the secret is out, we are thrilled to have them just down the road in Burnham Market and have to share their info just in case there is anyone who hasn't heard the buzz. Holly and Dan, the Front of House and Chef owners of this perfect little bistro have really created something special.